Arthur William Devis
(1762-1822), Portrait painterSitter in 1 portrait
Artist associated with 41 portraits
Devis was the son of Arthur Devis, a successful portrait painter. Devis enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools at the age of twelve and exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1775. In 1782, he embarked aboard the Antelope for a voyage to the East Indies, in the capacity of draughtsman. The ship was wrecked and Devis and the crew were stranded for a year on an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean. After a series of extraordinary adventures, Devis arrived in India, where he settled for ten years, establishing a modestly successful practice as a painter of portraits and local scenes. He returned to England in 1795; he concentrated mainly on painting portraits, but also landscapes, animal paintings and theatrical subjects.
by Arthur William Devis
oil on canvas, 1791
NPG 547
William Pitt Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst of Arracan
after Arthur William Devis
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1803
NPG 1546
by Arthur William Devis
oil on canvas, 1809
NPG 4265
by Arthur William Devis
oil on canvas, 1815-1816
NPG 1481
by James Basire, after Arthur William Devis
line engraving, 1785
NPG D5489
by James Basire, after Arthur William Devis
line engraving, 1785
NPG D5490
by and published by Henry Hudson, after Arthur William Devis
mezzotint, published July 1794, based on a work of 1784-1785
NPG D35565
by and published by Henry Hudson, after Arthur William Devis
mezzotint, published July 1794, based on a work of 1784-1785
NPG D49643
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possibly Sir James Cockburn, 7th Bt
by Henry Bone, after Arthur William Devis
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, 1797 (exhibited 1798)
NPG D17558
George Harris, 1st Baron Harris
by Samuel William Reynolds, published by Jeffryes & Co, after Arthur William Devis
mezzotint, published 23 October 1799
NPG D35523
George Harris, 1st Baron Harris
by William Evans, published by John Sewell, after Arthur William Devis
stipple engraving, published 1 March 1800
NPG D42711
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
by William Say, after Arthur William Devis
mezzotint, circa 1803-1834
NPG D11387
by William Evans, after Arthur William Devis
stipple engraving, published 1804
NPG D11104
by Robert Dunkarton, after Arthur William Devis
mezzotint, (1805)
NPG D9104
by Robert Dunkarton, after Arthur William Devis
engraved copper plate, (1805)
NPG D9105
'The prevailing Spring Fashions for 1806...the Elegant designs of Madame Lanchester'
by James Mitan, after Arthur William Devis, published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
line engraving, published June 1806
NPG D47494
by Edward Scriven, after Arthur William Devis
stipple engraving, published 1806
NPG D5337
by Thomas Cheesman, after Arthur William Devis
stipple engraving, circa 1808
NPG D35150
by and published by Robert Dunkarton, after Arthur William Devis
mezzotint, published 24 June 1809
NPG D37493
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